Radical Together: Unleashing the People of God for the Purpose of God

Dr. David Platt, President of the International Mission Board, holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (A.B.J.) from the University of Georgia, and a Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Theology (Th.M) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He previously served at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary as Dean of Chapel and Assistant Professor of Expository Preaching and Apologetics, Staff Evangelist at Edgewater Baptist Church in New Orleans, and eight years as the Senior Pastor of The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, AL. David founded Radical (Radical.net), a ministry devoted to serving churches and disseminating disciple-making resources toward the end that the gospel might be made known in all nations. David and his wife Heather have four children, Caleb, Joshua, Mara Ruth, and Isaiah.

Addressing evangelical Christian leaders and members, mega-church pastor and author Platt (Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream) espouses six "essential ideas" to accomplish the title goal. For example, in "The Tyranny of the Good," Platt urges individuals and congregations to prayerfully review budgets, questioning everything--family homes and dreams, church programs, building projects,--with a willingness to sacrifice all "to accomplish the Great Commission," namely, to evangelize. Providing examples of individuals and churches who faithfully engage in this process, he describes his own congregation's embrace of community orphans needing foster care and adoption, as well as the work done by families undertaking missions in impoverished countries. Platt challenges affluent Christians to rethink devoting vast resources to providing entertaining experiences and lattes for seekers. With urgency, he calls leaders to equip lay Christians to spread the gospel to the six thousand "people groups" who risk "everlasting suffering in hell" because they have not heard about Jesus. While mainline and other non-evangelical Christians may dispute some of Platt's assumptions, his call for faithful allocation of resources and an empowered laity will resonate across the Christian spectrum. (Apr.) Copyright 2011 Reed Business Information.

New York Times bestseller
CBA bestseller

Response to Radical and Radical Together

"I love this book! Please read it. God is using David Platt to lead His church into much-needed reform. Radical Together is filled with tremendous insight from a man who loves Christ’s church. I don’t know of a church leader that I trust more."
-Francis Chan, best-selling author of Crazy Love
 
"I have the privilege of knowing David Platt, and I assure you that his life and ministry commend what he has written here. Read Radical Together. Like the right medicine, it may be more helpful than comfortable. In fact, my prayer is that it may be an explosion, shifting many churches from centering wrongly on ourselves to centering rightly on Christ and his agenda for us—and for his world."
-Mark Dever, Senior Pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington D.C.
 
"Radical caused many Christians to be shaken and to reevaluate their lives. Radical Together will do the same for our churches. Radical Together is such a clarion call for churches across the world to follow the clear teachings of the Word that I began to pray that this book would indeed move thousands of churches to become more biblically radical. Many churches and Christians will never be the same again after reading this book and following its biblical precepts."
-Thom Rainer, President and CEO, LifeWay Christian Resources, and coauthor of The Millenials and Simple Church
 
"David Platt challenges Christians to wake up, trade in false values rooted in the American dream, and embrace the notion that each of us is blessed by God for a global purpose—to make Christ’s glory known to all nations! Radical is a must-read for every believer!"
-Wess Stafford, President and CEO, Compassion International

"Platt’s arguments…emerge at a post-excess moment, when attitudes toward material life are up for grabs. His book has struck a chord."
-David Brooks, The New York Times
 
"Platt challenges affluent Christians to rethink devoting vast resources to providing entertaining experiences and lattes for seekers. His call for faithful allocation of resources and an empowered laity will resonate across the Christian spectrum."
-Publishers Weekly
 
"What's significant about Platt's perspective is that it is coming from a solidly conservative voice in the evangelical mainstream."
-Jonathan Merritt, The Huffington Post
 
"This book is a challenge for Christians to wake up, trade in their false ’American dreams,’ and live a Christ-centered life."
-Jay Peroni, CFP, Crosswalk.com
 
"[Platt is] biblical, straightforward, brutally honest, and writes a powerful narrative as he sets out to discover what Jesus really taught to first century followers."
-Matthew Robbins, TheChristianManifesto.com
 
"Throughout the book, Platt exposes the indifference of American evangelicals. It was hard for me to put the book down, though I can't say that I enjoyed it. I was convicted. I was uncomfortable. But mostly I was (and am) challenged. Challenged to live a life that looks more like that of a true follower of Christ."
-John Bird, DiscerningReader.com